Cashing in on McFadzean made sense, insists Crawley chief

Crawley have vowed to plough all the funds from Kyle McFadzean’s sale to MK Dons into strengthening the squad.

McFadzean joined the Dons today on a two-year deal for an undisclosed six-figure fee The Argus has learned is £150,000.

Chief executive Michael Dunford admits losing the club’s longest serving player was a blow but that the deal was in both party’s best interests.

McFadzean, 27, had only 12 months left on his contract and was unlikely to sign a new deal and joining the ambitious Dons gives the defender a fresh challenge after four years at the Checkatrade.com Stadium.

Dunford said: ““Kyle wanted to talk to MK when they enquired about him. He wanted to be a bit closer to his roots in Sheffield, where he has just bought a new house, and felt at this stage of his career that he’d like a fresh challenge.

“It’s disappointing to lose Kyle, but he was out of contract in 12 months and it is likely he would have moved north then without the club receiving any form of compensation.

“He’s been a superb servant to this football club and we wish him all the best but we move on and the search for fresh additions to the squad continues.

“All the money from the sale of Kyle will be ploughed back into player wages and transfer fees to further strengthen the squad.”

McFadzean has signed a two-year deal with MK Dons which sees him link up with former Reds boss Richie Barker again who is assistant manager at Crawley’s League One rivals.

Alfreton will receive 20% of the profits from the sale due to a sell-on clause in his £75,000 transfer - which rose to £100,000 in add-ons - from the Conference north outfit in 2010 meaning they will pocket £10,000.

McFadzean went on to make 157 appearances for Crawley, scoring ten goals, and his departure leaves skipper Josh Simpson as the only survivor from the team which won the Conference title in 2011.